Automatic article sorting and punching machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic sorting machine for automatically sorting record receivers according to the elapsed time data printed thereon and for automatically punching the record receivers in accordance with printed time of day data appearing on the receivers. The machine includes apparatus for serially feeding record receivers to a scanning station having three scanning heads mounted to scan and convert printed data into radiant energy pulses that are analogues of the data. The pulses are sensed and converted to elapsed time and time of day BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) analogues. The elapsed time BCD analogues are applied as inputs to elapsed time error checking and correction logic which automatically corrects for error appearing in the printed data on the record receiver to generate elapsed time signals. The elapsed time signals are applied by electronics to selectively operate gate solenoids related to specific record receiver storage bins in the sorting machine. The time of day BCD analogues are applied as inputs to time of day error checking and correction logic which provides time of day signals corrected as stated above to selectively energize punch solenoids. The punch solenoids are energized by the signals while the record receivers are at the scanning station after which the record receivers are released to be automatically transported by the machine and stored in the bins selected by the elapsed time data. All logic is automatically restored in timed sequence with machines&#39;&#39; rate capability for storing documents.

United States Patent 11 1 Dillard et al.

[ Oct. 23, 1973 AUTOMATIC ARTICLE SORTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE [76] Inventors: John W. Dillard, 327 Leton Dr.,

' Columbia, S.C. 29210; Dominick Tringali, 1322 Kathwood Dr., Columbia, S.C. 29206; Richard L. Swartz, 543 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC; Ernest M. Hinson, Jr., 1731 Graeme Dr., Columbia, S.C. 29206 [22] Filed: Apr; 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 135,656

2,275,396 3/l942 Johnson 234/63 X Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney-Kemon, Oalmer & Estabrook 57 ABSTRACT An automatic sorting machine for automatically sorting record receivers according to the elapsed time data printed thereon and for automatically punching the record receivers in accordance with printed time of day data appearing on the receivers. The machine includes apparatus for serially feeding record receivers to a scanning station having three scanning heads mounted to scan and convert printed data into radiantv energy pulses that are analogues of the data. The

pulses are sensed and converted to elapsed time and time of day BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) analogues. The elapsed time BCD analogues are applied as inputs to elapsed time error checking and correction logic which automatically corrects for error appearing in the printed data on the record receiver to generate elapsed time signals. The elapsed time signals are applied by electronics to selectively operate gate solenoids related to specific record receiver storage bins in the sorting machine. The time of day BCD analogues are applied as inputs to time of day error checking and correction logic which provides time of day signals corrected as stated above to selectively energize punch solenoids. The punch solenoids are energized by the signals while the record receivers are at the scanning station after which the record receivers are released to be automatically transported by the machine and stored in the bins selected by the elapsed time data. All logic is automatically restored in timed sequence with machines rate capability for storing documents.

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mww mm wmmbmm mN 0i i Now AUTOMATIC ARTICLE SORTING A D PuNcIIINc MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automatic document sorting machines having the capability of retrieving data from a record receiver and automatically transporting the record receiver to a document storage bin or location assigned to the data in the machine. The invention also relates to machines of the aforementioned type that have the additional capability for automatically punching a record receiver in accordance with data recorded on the receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION THE PROBLEM For many years telephone operating companies have used record receivers in card form for the purpose of providing records of the time of day that toll calls are commenced and records of the elapsed time for each such call. The record is usually made with a Calculagraph (registered trademark of the Calculagraph Company, Harrison, NJ.) by a telephone operator. Telephone company personnel thereafter visually read the printed data to determine the time of each call and its duration. The toll cards are thereafter marked to show total elapsed time of a call. The cards are then manually sorted into groups where a group differs from the preceding elapsed time group by a factor of l minute, e.g., all cards showing an elapsed time in the range 6 seconds through one minute seconds are collected as a first group; those cards showing elapsed time in a range of 1 minute 16 seconds to 2 minutes 15 seconds are collected in a second group, etc. Thereafter, a lead card, i.e., a card that is prepunched with a specific elapsed time, is made the first card in each group. For example, a card prepunched with an elapsedtime of one minute may be placed as the first card of the group of cards for the range 6 seconds 1 minute, 15 seconds, and a card prepunched for 2 minutes may be placed as the first card of the second group and so forth.

It should be noted that each card was provided with data at the placing of the call indicating the calling and called numbers and such other individual identification data as was appropriate.

The groups of sorted cards are thereafter used by automatic accounting machinery for at least the purpose of computing customers statements.

From the preceding discussion, it should be apparent that much saving in the way of labor and operating costs can be realized if thetoll cards are sorted automatically. Further savings can be realized ifthey are automatically perforated in accordance with the time of day.

PRIOR ART gate such that the gate is opened when the solenoid is energized.

Known prior art machines usually provide some form of reader and associated circuitry for detecting data carried by the document and for processing the data so as to selectively energize a gate solenoid. In the general case, magnetically coded data in binary form carried by the documents is read and inputted to a buffer storage. Logic is employed to respond to the storages outputs so as to energize a gate solenoid. Usually timing means are employed to relate machine sorting speed to circuit speed. An example of this art is represented by the teaching of U. S. Pat. No. 3,246,751. It has also been taught that character recognition apparatus may be employed to read numeric data appearing on documents, see U. S. Pat. No. 3,052,350. These machines are said to be employed to sort bank checks or mail.

In addition, it is known to associate a keyboard, operated punch to a sorting machine, see U. S. Pat. No. 2,745,493.

Finally, there is a suggestion in U. S. Pat. No. 3,03 l ,1 35 that a flying spot scanner and associated circuitry may be employed to retrieve elapsed time data from a telephone toll card and be used by a utilization circuit. It is therein stated that the utilization circuit may be a card punch device for punching an information card in the manner known in the art.

It is the principalobject of this invention to provide new and useful apparatus that automatically controls the operation of a sorting machine and punch in response to data represented by the angular relationship of marks on record receivers.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and useful control apparatus for a document punch which apparatus is automatically responsive to data relating to time and represented by the angular separation of scanning marks on documents presented to the punch. These and other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the overall machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the scanning station;

FIGS. 4 and 4a show a card of the type used in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the complete electronics of the invention;

FIGS. 6-8 are wiring diagrams of the machine panel controls;

FIG. 9 is a timing diagram of the machine operation; FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the function generator;

FIGS. 11a and 11b are schematic diagrams of the photocell detector amplifiers and control pulse formers;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a transponder pulse amplifier;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a pretime pulse generator;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of the elapsed time gates and counters;

FIG. 15 is a composite block diagram of the elapsed time logic of FIG. 5;

FIGS; 16-24 show circuits of FIG. 15 shown as on cards used in the machine;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of the bin gate drive circuit; 

1. An article sorting and punching machine for sorting and punching articles according to time recordings carried by the articles and in which articles are conveyed in succession along a trackway from an article input end past an article scanning station and a punching device, the punching device including a plurality of punches, to an article discharge section of the trackway, the said discharge section including a plurality of discharge gates for effecting removal of articles from the trackway, the combination including: scanning means located at the article scanning station for scanning at least the time recordings on an article at the station, and to generate radiant energy pulses as scanning means output signals, the said radiant energy pulses being analogues of the time recordings on the article; a pulse source synchronized to movement of the scanning means to produce a predetermined number of electrical pulses for each scan of the time recordings made by the scanning means; logic means, including radiant to electrical energy conversion means, responsive to said radiant energy pulses and to electrical pulses from said pulse source to provide a first electrical drive signal that is selective of a discharge gate in said discharge section of said trackway, and to provide at least a second electrical drive signal that is selective of a punch in said punching device; discharge gate operating means responsive to the first drive signal for effecting operation of the discharge gate designated by the signal; punch operating means responsive to the second drive signal for effecting operation of the punch designated by the signal; and control means operative with the movement of articles along the trackway for resetting the logic means subsequent to the operation of the discharge gate and punch, and being effective thereafter to condition saiD logic means and said discharge gate operating means to select a discharge gate and a punch in accordance with time recordings carried by the next article on the trackway.
 2. An article sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means includes sensing means operative upon the simultaneous occurrence of more than one article at the scanning station to inhibit the operation of said logic means.
 3. An article sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each article carries a plurality of time recordings and wherein the logic means is operative to provide said first drive signal in response to at least one radiant energy pulse generated by said scanning means from one time recording, and is operative to provide said second drive signal in response to a radiant energy pulse generated by said scanning means from at least one other time recording.
 4. A card sorting and punching machine for sorting and punching cards carrying elapsed time and time of day recordings and in which cards are conveyed in succession along a trackway from a card input past a scanning station and a punching device, the machine including a plurality of discharge gates for effecting removal of cards from the trackway, the combination including: rotatably driven scanning means located at said scaning station for scanning said recordings on a card located at said station and providing as a first output a radiant energy pulse analogue of the time of day recording on said card and as second outputs radiant energy pulse analogues of the elapsed time recordings on said card; a pulse source drivingly coupled to said scanning means to generate dial pulses and to generate a control pulse for each revolution of the pulse source; first logic means including a radiant to electrical energy converter responsive to the first output of the scanning means and to said control pulse to obtain at least a punch drive signal selective of a punch in said device from a number of dial pulses determined by said first output and said control pulse; punch operating means responsive to said punch drive signal for effecting a punching of the card by the punch selected by the signal; second logic means including as many radiant to electrical energy converters as there are second outputs of said scanning means to obtain a discharge gate drive signal selective of a discharge gate from a number of dial pulses determined by said second outputs; gate operating means responsive to said gate drive signal for effecting operation of the gate selected by the signal; and control means connected to said first and second logic means to selectively control the operation of said means in response to predetermined card related conditions, and being further connected to said discharge gate operating means to control said last named means and said logic means in accordance with the card sorting rate capability of the sorting machine.
 5. A card sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein said control means includes: sensor means positioned at said scanner station and responsive to a precomputed recording of elapsed time on a card at said station to generate a pretime signal, said sensor means being connected to said second logic means to effect inhibition of the output of said named logic means with the pretime signal, and being connected to the discharge gate operating means to effect the operation of a pretime discharge gate.
 6. A card sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the control means includes: card distributor means responsive to a series of cards each carrying precomputed recordings of different values of elapsed time for inhibiting the operation of said first and second logic means, and being connected to said gate operating means to effect a sequential operation of the discharge gates.
 7. A card sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said card distributor means compRises: a card distributor including a shift register having outputs connected to operate said gate operating means, and a gating network including clocking gates for triggering the shift register and inhibit gates to effect inhibition of said first and second logic means; switching means connected to said gating network to render said network operable upon energization of the switching means; and card sensing means at said scanning station and connected to the clocking gates to trigger said shift register each time a card is conveyed past the sensing means.
 8. A card sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the control means includes switching means responsive to the presence of more than one card simultaneously at the scanning station for inhibiting the operation of said first and second logic means.
 9. A card sorting and punching machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first logic means is provided with circuit means connected to at least an input of the control means to inhibit the production of drive signals by said first and second logic means until a complete pulse of radiant energy is received by the radiant to electrical energy converter.
 10. A card sorting and punching machine according to claim 4 wherein each of said logic means is provided with circuit means for changing the drive signal in the event of error in the time recordings to drive signals selective of either or both of another punch and discharge gate. 